Hunters' opinions on pheasant season sought 12-05-08

Published 6:00 pm, Sunday, December 7, 2008

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is asking hunters across the state to weigh in on proposed rule changes in the pheasant-hunting season that could take effect next year.

While there are no changes planned for the coming season, which begins Saturday, the department is considering opening the 2009 season the Friday following Thanksgiving.

Currently, the season opens the first Saturday in December and runs for 30 consecutive days.

According to Danny Swepston with TPWD in Canyon, the proposed change would lengthen the season by adding days to the front end. It still would run roughly through the end of the year, he said.

Swepston said the thinking behind the proposal is twofold.

First, the department wants to provide greater opportunities for youth to hunt. Since school is out for that weekend following Thanksgiving, it seemed like a good fit.

Second, Swepston continued, there is concern that Texas hunters are leaving the state and going to Kansas for a couple of weeks. That state begins its season in mid-November.

A series of public meetings is scheduled in the coming days. Those are in Dimmitt on Dec. 12; Dalhart, Dec. 13; Amarillo, Dec. 14; and Spearman, Dec. 15. The meetings are scheduled to run from 7-9 p.m. each night, but exact locations within each community have not been determined.

While there are a number of possible advantages to the new opening date, Swepston acknowledged that there is a potential problem. The new dates would have pheasant season opening in the middle of mule deer season on the High Plains.

According to Hale County Game Warden Mark Collins, that could pose some real logistical problems, given the small number of game wardens who work in the region and the great amount of distance they have to travel.

"We'll have anywhere from eight or nine seasons going at one time, and most of us have two or three counties (to cover)," he said, adding that he doesn't oppose giving people more opportunities to hunt but is concerned about how thin it could spread enforcement personnel.

"My main concern is the enforcement aspect," he said. "It's going to be a stretch."

Swepston said those concerns will be factored into the final decision.